Kamaaluddin wa Tamaamun Ni’ma Vol. 1

Chapter 11: Regarding the report of Tubba

Tubba the king (of Yemen) was among those who knew the Holy Prophet (S) and was in anticipation of his advent because he had received information about it. He knew that in the near future a prophet would arise in Mecca and migrated to Yathrib (Medina).

1 - Muhammad bin Hasan bin Ahmad bin Walid (r.a.): Narrated to us Muhammad bin Hasan as-Saffar from Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Isa from Hasan bin Ali from Umar bin Aban from Aban rafa’u[^1], that once while walking Tubba recited the following couplets:

Till there came to me a learned one from the Quraiza who was a Rabbi, and I swear by your life he was famous among the Jews.

He told me to abstain from attacking a hidden village because a prophet from Quraish would arise from Mecca.

Thus I excused them but I did it unwillingly and I left them for the fear of the eternal day.

And I abstained from attacking Mecca for the sake of Allah and in hope of His forgiveness. For the sake of the day of accounting and the blazing (fire of) Hell.

And I left behind a man from my community for this prophet. I left a person of merit whom people praised.

A person who shall have victories and divine help in his generations. And through this I hope in reward of the Lord of Muhammad.

I didn’t even expect that there would be a manifest house of Allah in the land of Mecca where He would be worshipped.

They told me that there was a rich treasury in Mecca. Treasures of pearls and emeralds.

So I made an elaborate plan but my Lord did not allow it to be fulfilled. And Allah saves his Masjid from destruction.

Thus, whatever I had aspired, I left upon them. And I performed this exemplary deed only for these pure-hearted personalities.

Abu Abdillah (a.s.) said: Indeed he was informed that a prophet would arise from here (Mecca) and his migration shall be towards Yathrib (Medina). Thus he took with himself a group of people from Yemen and settled them with the Jews so that after the advent of that prophet they might help, support and regarding him, he composed the following couplets:

I testify that Ahmad in certainly the Messenger of that God Who is the Creator of the universe.

Thus if I had such a long age that I could meet him I would indeed become his vizier and his cousin.

And I would become a punishment for the polytheists and made them drink the ale of death and sorrow.

2 - Narrated to us my father (r.a.): Narrated to us Ali bin Ibrahim from his father from Ibne Abi Umair from Ibrahim bin Abdul Hameed from Walib bin Sabih from Abi Abdullah (a.s.) that he said:

Tubba told Aws and Khazraj: You people stay here till that prophet arises and as for me, if I live till that time I will serve and help him.

3 - Narrated to us Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Husain al-Bazzaz: Narrated to us Muhammad bin Yaqoob Asam: Narrated to us Ahmad bin Abdul Jabbar Utaridi: Narrated to us Yunus bin Bukair Shaibani from Zakariya bin Yahya Madini: Narrated to me Ikrimah: I heard Ibne Abbas say:

“You must not have any misgiving regarding Tubba, because he was a Muslim.”

[^1]: Rafa’u is a term that means that the original narrator has mentioned a name which the subsequent narrator/s has/have omitted.